BELVIDERE — The Belvidere School District might boost class sizes or juggle students’ schedules if the state does not accept the administration’s request to deviate from Illinois rules governing special education.

The administration asked the Illinois State Board of Education on Monday if it could break the so-called “70-30” requirement, which mandates that special education students — who have individualized education programs — can constitute no more than 30 percent of a general education classroom.

The request was made days after officials determined that 18 of 1,249 sixth- through 12th-grade district classrooms exceeded the 30 percent threshold. The administration had reviewed classrooms’ ratios after the district’s teacher union, the Belvidere Education Association, accused administrators of knowingly violating the law.

Union members said administrators expected state leaders to have repealed this requirement by now.

“A little too late,” said Kendra Asbury, vice president of the teacher’s union.

This is the first time the administration has asked the state for permission to deviate from the rule.

Classrooms were out of compliance because of the method used for scheduling students with individualized education programs, said Sheri Smith, assistant superintendent of student services.

Building leaders determine students’ schedules by accommodating people with special needs before arranging the rest of the student body’s classes. The proportions are affected if not enough general education students enroll in a class.

This system also doesn’t take into account individuals who have accommodations in only some courses.

“We could have a student who requires services for math … but because they sit in that English class and have an (individualized education program), they count toward the (special education ratio),” Smith said.

The administration is evaluating the academic performance of each student in a noncompliant classroom to determine if changing schedules or increasing class size is beneficial.

“The question is, is it in the best interest of the students to make those changes at this point in the year?” Smith said.

Representatives from the Illinois State Board of Education could not be reached for comment about the repercussions of violating the state’s rule.